Udvalget for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri 2010-11 (1. samling)
FLF Alm.del Bilag 34
Offentligt
GM-crops: Unintended effectson OrganismsDavid A. AndowDepartment of EntomologyUniversity of Minnesota
Two Prefatory RemarksSomeGM crops arebetterfor theenvironment than the conventionalvarieties they replaced.Ex: Certain Bt cottons in Arizona, USA
No GM crop can be declared safe for anew environment without first assessingthe potential environmental risksRisk assessment is essentialGMO ERA Project
Main ConclusionsMethodology for assessing risks of GM-crops to organisms stillneedsimprovementsThere aresignificant environmentalrisksof GM-crops to organisms thatneed to be evaluated
GMO ERA Project
Differing PerspectivesAnti-GMO“Activists”Pro-GMO“True believers”
gap
Treacherous middle groundGMO ERA Project
GMO ERA Project
Different Assumptions About What is ImportantOnlyDirect,Non-agriculturaleffects mediatedbyNon-humans
BothDirect and Indirect,andAgricultural and Non-Agriculturaleffects,mediated by bothHumansand Non-humansGMO ERA Project
TransgenicAgriculturalCropHT GeneOther Gene
IndirectEffecton EnvironmentHerbicide
Other IndirectDirectEffectEffects onof TransgeneEnvironmentonEnvironment
Weed Control
GMO ERA Project
Kinds of Environmental Effects of GM Crops1)
2)3)
Transgene flow and subsequent effects(both genetic and ecological)Resistance evolutionUnintended effects on organismsand ecosystem processes.
GMO ERA Project
Kinds of GM CropsInsecticidal CropsBtOthers
Herbicide tolerant CropsGlyphosateOthers
OthersVirus-resistant (papaya, squash)Third Generation CropsGMO ERA Project
Kinds of adverse effects of Bt-GM plants onbiological diversity1)2)3)
4)5)6)7)
Adverse effects on crop productionReduced soil health or qualityReduced value of non-crop economicactivitiesReduced cultural valueIncreased conservation concernReduced environmental qualityIncreased human disease(via environmental change)GMO ERA Project
First StoryThe Value of Culture
GMO ERA Project
Monarch butterfly and Bt maize in the US
Main Result: No serious riskGMO ERA Project
Overlooked
Monarchs wereoverlooked byboth the USA and Canada
GMO ERA Project
Monarchs are Amazing
>3000 km
GMO ERA Project
Monarchs are AmazingAggregate in winter>100 millionin Mexico
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CulturalSignificancein N. America
GMO ERA Project
Kinds of adverse effects of Bt-GM plants onbiological diversity1)2)3)
4)5)6)7)
Adverse effects on crop productionReduced soil health or qualityReduced value of non-crop economicactivitiesReduced cultural valueIncreased conservation concernReduced environmental qualityIncreased human disease(via environmental change)GMO ERA Project
Second StoryAssessing Sustainability
GMO ERA Project
Risk Assessment for Chemical ToxinsPromoted by biotechnology industry forGM-cropsEuropean Food Safety Agency.EFSAJournal99,1-94 (2004)
GMO ERA Project
ObserveNoEffectConductLaboratoryToxicityTests
ERADone
ERABegins
How goodUndetectedare the tests?Effects
ObserveAnEffect
ContinueTesting
GMO ERA Project
Natural and Biological ControlValue high (worldwide US$417 xEcologically sustainable pest control9)10
GMO ERA Project
GM-Bt-cropsLaboratory dataNatural enemiesDirect effect of Bt-toxin55 studies273 responses measured
GMO ERA Project
Bt-toxins : non-zero direct effectsPercent of Observations706050403020100-Slight -0Slight ++GMO ERA Project
Zero-effectspredictionPredatorParasitoid
Andow, Lovei and Arpaia, Environ. Entomol. 38:1528-32.
Reported ResultsAll of the original papers foundno directeffectsAll of the review papers foundno directeffects“Laboratory studies have revealed ... noindication of direct toxic effects [of Bt-toxins].”
Conclusion:There are many undetectedeffects!Assessment method must be improvedto assess sustainability accuratelyGMO ERA Project
Third StoryThe Last Animal AliveWill be a Cockroach
GMO ERA Project
Kinds of adverse effects of Bt-GM plants onbiological diversity1)2)3)
4)5)6)7)
Adverse effects on crop productionReduced soil health or qualityReduced value of non-crop economicactivitiesReduced cultural valueIncreased conservation concernReduced environmental qualityIncreased human disease(via environmental change)GMO ERA Project
100908070605040302010
Southeast USABt cotton released
% cotton acres
Acres in Bt cotton% acres infestedStink Bug
01992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
YearGMO ERA Project
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Consequences in the USCrop lossesInsecticide applicationsExcellent extension system= Financial benefits and some environmentalbenefits of Bt cotton have been sustained
GMO ERA Project
GMO ERA Project
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Consequences in ChinaCrop lossesIncreased insecticide applicationsPoor extension system= Financial and environmental benefits of Btcotton have been lost
GMO ERA Project
Humankindshould notexpect to win thewar against croppests
GMO ERA Project
Main ConclusionsMethodology for assessing risks of GM-crops to organisms stillneedsimprovementsThere aresignificant environmentalrisksof GM-crops to organisms thatneed to be evaluated
GMO ERA Project
